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Papadopoulos CH, Kadoglou NPE, Theodosis-Georgilas A, Papadopoulos KG, Rallidis L, Loizos S, Karabinos I, Kassinos N, Sahpekidis V, Chrysoheris M, Ninios V, Frogoudaki A, Makavos G, Drakopoulou M, Yiangou K, Karagiannis S, Zois N, Patrianakos A, Ikonomidis I, Tsiapras D, Kouris N, Aggeli K, Pappas K, Prappa E, Stefanidis A. Practical guidance and clinical applications of transoesophageal echocardiography. A position paper of the working group of echocardiography of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102634. [PMID: 38734120 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a well-established imaging modality, providing more accurate and of higher quality information than transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for a wide spectrum cardiac and extra-cardiac diseases. The present paper represents an effort by the Echocardiography Working Group (WG) of the Hellenic Cardiology Society to state the essential steps of the typical TOE exam performed in echo lab. This is an educational text, describing the minimal requirements and the preparation of a meticulous TOE examination. Most importantly, it gives practical instructions to obtain and optimize TOE views and analyses the implementation of a combined two-and multi-dimensional protocol for the imaging of the most common cardiac structures during a TOE. In the second part of the article a comprehensive review of the contemporary use of TOE in a wide spectrum of valvular and non-valvular cardiac diseases is provided, based on the current guidelines and the experience of the WG members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantinos H Papadopoulos
- 2nd Cardiology Department, Korgialenio - Benakio Red Cross Hospital, +10 Platonos street, Neo Psychiko, Athens 15451, Greece.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vlasis Ninios
- 2nd Cardiology Department, Interbalkan Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | - Maria Drakopoulou
- 1st Cardiology Department, Hippokration University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Nikolaos Zois
- Private Practice, Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece
| | | | | | - Dimitrios Tsiapras
- 2nd Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiosurgical Center, Piraeus, Greece
| | | | - Konstantina Aggeli
- 1st Cardiology Department, Hippokration University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Efstathia Prappa
- Cardiology Department, General Hospital of Evaggelismos, Athens, Greece
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Papadopoulos CH, Kadoglou NPE, Theodosis-Georgilas A, Karabinos I, Loizos S, Papadopoulos KG, Chrysoheris M, Ninios V, Frogoudaki A, Drakopoulou M, Angelaki M, Rallidis L, Kassinos N, Sahpekidis V, Makavos G, Yiangou K, Karagiannis S, Zois N, Patrianakos A, Ikonomidis I, Tsiapras D, Kouris N, Aggeli K, Pappas K, Prappa E, Stefanidis A. Transoesophageal echocardiography beyond the Echo-Laboratory. An expert consensus paper of the working group of echocardiography of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology. Hellenic J Cardiol 2024:S1109-9666(24)00128-3. [PMID: 38901557 DOI: 10.1016/j.hjc.2024.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is a well-established and valid imaging modality, providing more accurate and of higher quality information than transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for several specific diagnoses and recently a useful guide of an increasing number of catheter-based and surgical interventions. The present paper represents an effort by the Echocardiography Working Group (WG) of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology to state the essential steps of the TOE exam performed beyond the echo lab: a) in the operating rooms intraoperatively during either transcatheter interventions, or cardiothoracic surgery and b) in the intensive care unit for critically ill patients' monitoring. This paper includes information and tips and tricks about the pre-procedural evaluation, the procedural echocardiographic guidance and post - procedural evaluation of the result and potential complications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vlasis Ninios
- 2(nd) Cardiology Department, Interbalkan Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Maria Drakopoulou
- 1(st) Cardiology Department, Hippokration University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Angelaki
- 1(nd) Cardiology Department, Korgialenio - Benakio Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Loukianos Rallidis
- 2(nd) Cardiology Department, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nikolaos Zois
- Private practice, Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece
| | | | | | - Dimitrios Tsiapras
- 2nd Cardiology Department, Onassis Cardiosurgical Center, Piraeus, Greece
| | | | - Konstantina Aggeli
- 1(st) Cardiology Department, Hippokration University Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Efstathia Prappa
- Cardiology Department, General Hospital of Evaggelismos, Athens, Greece
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Amin A, Augustine M, Shafique MA, Mustafa MS, Mian ZR, Jaimes DCC, Gaudani A, Shaukat B, Kumar S, Aulakh SS, Jami E, Sharifa M, Ahuja K, Maslamani ANJ, Bhudia S. Left Atrial Septal Pouch (LASP) and cryptogenic stroke risk: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102400. [PMID: 38232917 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The left atrial septal pouch (LASP) is a small anatomical septal recess in the heart that has been linked with cardioembolic events. A systematic appraisal of the existing literature is necessary to establish a better understanding of the risk as studies continue to indicate a correlation between LASPs and cryptogenic strokes. OBJECTIVES To determine the level of association between the presence of LASP and the risk of developing cryptogenic stroke. METHODS We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus for studies comparing the prevalence of LASP in patients with cryptogenic stroke against non-cryptogenic stroke control groups from inception till December, 2023. The Newcastle Ottawa scale was used for quality assessment and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 3.3 was used for data analysis with odds ratio (OR) as the effect measure. RESULTS Our review included a total of 10 retrospective, observational studies published between 2010 to 2022. A total of 683 cases of cryptogenic strokes were identified, out of which 33.1 % (n = 271) were associated with a LASP. Among the non-cryptogenic stroke controls (n = 2641), LASP was present in 20.6 % cases (n = 476). The aggregate OR for cryptogenic stroke was 1.618 times greater than non-cryptogenic stroke (p < 0.001) among LASP cases, CONCLUSION: The presence of a septal pouch in the left atrium is significantly linked to a higher risk of developing cryptogenic strokes. As a potential site of thrombus formation and subsequent dislodgement, further large-scale studies are necessary to establish the guidelines for management and prophylaxis to prevent embolic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamir Amin
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Harefield Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | - Muhammad Ashir Shafique
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Rafiqi H J Shaheed Road, Karachi, Pakistan 75510.
| | - Muhammad Saqlain Mustafa
- Department of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Rafiqi H J Shaheed Road, Karachi, Pakistan 75510.
| | | | | | | | | | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine.
| | | | - Elhama Jami
- Herat University Faculty of Medicine, Afghanistan.
| | | | | | | | - Sunil Bhudia
- Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Harefield Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
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Xu J, Kim JK, Fisher M. The enigma of the left atrial septal pouch. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2024:S1050-1738(24)00004-5. [PMID: 38224824 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Xu
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), UC Irvine School of Medicine, USA
| | - Jin Kyung Kim
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), UC Irvine School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mark Fisher
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, UC Irvine School of Medicine, 101 The City Drive South, Shanbrom Hall Room 121, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
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5
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Scagliola R, Caponi D, Scaglione M. Atrial septal pouches and ridges: Morphological features and potential implications in clinical practice. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2023:S1050-1738(23)00115-9. [PMID: 38158028 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Incomplete or irregular fusion of the interatrial septum may result in several anatomic variants, including atrial septal pouches and ridges, whose knowledge and recognition are still poorly widespread in clinical practice. An educational review focused on the definition, clinical significance and diagnostic work-up of these anatomic findings was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central databases up to June 2023. Atrial septal pouches and ridges have been associated with an increased difficulty of catheter-based interventions requiring a transseptal approach, due to procedural challenges for transseptal puncture and the restricted motion of guidewires and catheters through the transseptal access. Additionally, left atrial septal pouch may serve as a thrombogenic nidus and a source of systemic embolism, mostly in the presence of factors leading to higher left atrial pressure and/or atrial blood stasis, which increase the risk of thrombus formation and embolic events, rather than for the only presence of left atrial septal pouch itself. Further investigations are needed in order to better elucidate the implications of such anatomic findings in daily clinical practice, and to provide the most appropriate decision-making strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Scagliola
- Division of Cardiology, Cardinal G. Massaia Hospital, C.so Dante Alighieri n. 202 - 14100, Asti, Italy.
| | - Domenico Caponi
- Division of Cardiology, Cardinal G. Massaia Hospital, C.so Dante Alighieri n. 202 - 14100, Asti, Italy
| | - Marco Scaglione
- Division of Cardiology, Cardinal G. Massaia Hospital, C.so Dante Alighieri n. 202 - 14100, Asti, Italy
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Schilling J, Lin JP, Mankad SV, Krishnam MS, Ning M, Patel PM, Kim CK, Kapoor R, Di Tullio MR, Jung J, Kim JK, Fisher MJ. The 2022 FASEB Virtual Catalyst Conference on the Cardiac Interatrial Septum and Stroke Risk, December 7, 2022. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23122. [PMID: 37606555 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that the cardiac interatrial septum has an important role as a thromboembolic source for ischemic strokes. There is little consensus on treatment of patients with different cardiac interatrial morphologies or pathologies who have had stroke. In this paper, we summarize the important background, diagnostic, and treatment considerations for this patient population as presented during the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Virtual Catalytic Conference on the Cardiac Interatrial Septum and Stroke Risk, held on December 7, 2022. During this conference, many aspects of the cardiac interatrial septum were discussed. Among these were the embryogenesis of the interatrial septum and development of anatomic variants such as patent foramen ovale and left atrial septal pouch. Also addressed were various mechanisms of injury such as shunting physiologies and the consequences that can result from anatomic variants, as well as imaging considerations in echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Treatment options including anticoagulation and closure were addressed, as well as an in-depth discussion on whether the left atrial septal pouch is a stroke risk factor. These issues were discussed and debated by multiple experts from neurology, cardiology, and radiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Schilling
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Jeannette P Lin
- Department of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sunil V Mankad
- Department of Cardiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mayil S Krishnam
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - MingMing Ning
- Cardio-Neurology Clinic, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pranav M Patel
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Chi Kyung Kim
- Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ruchi Kapoor
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marco R Di Tullio
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jinman Jung
- Department of Neurology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea
| | - Jin Kyung Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Mark J Fisher
- Departments of Neurology, Anatomy & Neurobiology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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Faletra FF, Agricola E, Flachskampf FA, Hahn R, Pepi M, Ajmone Marsan N, Wunderlich N, Elif Sade L, Donal E, Zamorano JL, Cosyns B, Vannan M, Edvardsen T, Berrebi A, Popescu BA, Lancellotti P, Lang R, Bäck M, Bertrand PB, Dweck M, Keenan N, Stankovic I. Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography: how to use and when to use-a clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Imaging 2023; 24:e119-e197. [PMID: 37259019 DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jead090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TOE) has been rapidly developed in the last 15 years. Currently, 3D TOE is particularly useful as an additional imaging modality for the cardiac echocardiographers in the echo-lab, for cardiac interventionalists as a tool to guide complex catheter-based procedures cardiac, for surgeons to plan surgical strategies, and for cardiac anaesthesiologists and/or cardiologists, to assess intra-operative results. The authors of this document believe that acquiring 3D data set should become a 'standard part' of the TOE examination. This document provides (i) a basic understanding of the physic of 3D TOE technology which enables the echocardiographer to obtain new skills necessary to acquire, manipulate, and interpret 3D data sets, (ii) a description of valvular pathologies, and (iii) a description of non-valvular pathologies in which 3D TOE has shown to be a diagnostic tool particularly valuable. This document has a new format: instead of figures randomly positioned through the text, it has been organized in tables which include figures. We believe that this arrangement makes easier the lecture by clinical cardiologists and practising echocardiographers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco F Faletra
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Eustachio Agricola
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Frank A Flachskampf
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca Hahn
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Mauro Pepi
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Nina Ajmone Marsan
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Nina Wunderlich
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Leyla Elif Sade
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Erwan Donal
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Jose-Luis Zamorano
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Bernard Cosyns
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Mani Vannan
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Thor Edvardsen
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Alain Berrebi
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Bogdan A Popescu
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Patrizio Lancellotti
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Lang
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Magnus Bäck
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Philippe B Bertrand
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Marc Dweck
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Niall Keenan
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Stankovic
- Division of Cardiology, ISMETT: Istituto Mediterraneo per i Trapianti e Terapie ad Alta Specializzazione, Palermo, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
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Dudkiewicz D, Hołda MK. Interatrial septum as a possible source of thromboembolic events. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN ANATOMY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tria.2022.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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Khan A, Riasat M, Ehtesham M, Brink D, Rai K, Haseeb M, Khan W, Zein R. Recurrent Cryptogenic Stroke in a Patient With Left Atrial Septal Pouch. Cureus 2022; 14:e24241. [PMID: 35602799 PMCID: PMC9116471 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The incomplete fusion of the septum primum and septum secundum results in the formation of the left atrial septal pouch (LASP). The clinical significance of this entity is a matter of controversy; however, it may act as a nidus for thrombus formation. We report a case of a 57-year-old male who was brought to the hospital by his girlfriend due to his bizarre behavior and confusion for one day. The initial workup for his altered mental status did not yield a diagnosis. The patient was admitted for further workup, which included an MRI of the brain that showed numerous very small-sized foci of restricted diffusion involving bilateral cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres consistent with thromboembolic infarct. The patient did not receive a tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) as he was out of the window for TPA. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) with bubble study did not show patent foramen ovale (PFO) or atrial septal defect (ASD). ECG and telemetry showed normal sinus rhythm and no atrial fibrillation. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) was obtained to find the source of the thromboembolic stroke. TEE discovered a 22 x 8-mm cystic structure in the interatrial septum consistent with a LASP. We hypothesize that the LASP may be a risk factor for cryptogenic stroke. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence of atrial septal pouch (ASP) in the general population, its clinical significance, and guidelines for treatment implications.
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Prevalence of left atrial septal pouch among patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source or stroke of known etiology: A retrospective study. J Transl Int Med 2022; 10:48-55. [PMID: 35702186 PMCID: PMC8997797 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2022-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Cryptogenic strokes can be defined by the criteria established for an embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Some embolic events might be caused by a left atrial septal pouch (LASP), due to the potential of thrombus formation. In this study we aimed to determine if LASP is a risk factor for ESUS when compared to a population of strokes of known origin, the LASP screening rate in our institution and if LASP dimensions influences the risk of ESUS. Methods We retrospectively analyzed transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs) in a large cohort of patients that had experienced ischemic strokes. Two authors performed blinded, independent searches for LASPs by reviewing 1152 TEEs from patients that had experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack. We excluded 26 TEEs, due to incorrect imaging. Next, we reviewed patient medical files. Results Among the 1126 included patients, 148 had an ESUS (ESUS+ group) and 978 had strokes of known origin (ESUS– group). A LASP was present in 176 patients, including 32 patients (21.6% of LASPs) in the ESUS+ group and 144 patients (14.7% of LASPs) in the ESUS– group. In multivariate analysis, LASP was independently associated with ESUS (P = 0,019). 61.9% of LASPs that we found were not mentioned in reports from the original TEE operators. Conclusion This study demonstrated that LASPs were more prevalent in patients with ESUS than in patients with strokes of known origin. Our results gave rise to the question of whether anticoagulation would be appropriate for some patients with ESUS. New large-scale, prospective studies should be conducted to address this issue. Additionally, considering the low rate of LASP descriptions, we concluded that the awareness of operators should be raised to improve their success in identifying LASPs.
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11
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Prevalence of left atrial septal pouch among patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source or stroke of known etiology: A retrospective study. J Transl Int Med 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2021-0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background and objectives
Cryptogenic strokes can be defined by the criteria established for an embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Some embolic events might be caused by a left atrial septal pouch (LASP), due to the potential of thrombus formation. In this study we aimed to determine if LASP is a risk factor for ESUS when compared to a population of strokes of known origin, the LASP screening rate in our institution and if LASP dimensions influences the risk of ESUS.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs) in a large cohort of patients that had experienced ischemic strokes. Two authors performed blinded, independent searches for LASPs by reviewing 1152 TEEs from patients that had experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack. We excluded 26 TEEs, due to incorrect imaging. Next, we reviewed patient medical files.
Results
Among the 1126 included patients, 148 had an ESUS (ESUS+ group) and 978 had strokes of known origin (ESUS– group). A LASP was present in 176 patients, including 32 patients (21.6% of LASPs) in the ESUS+ group and 144 patients (14.7% of LASPs) in the ESUS– group. In multivariate analysis, LASP was independently associated with ESUS (P = 0,019). 61.9% of LASPs that we found were not mentioned in reports from the original TEE operators.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that LASPs were more prevalent in patients with ESUS than in patients with strokes of known origin. Our results gave rise to the question of whether anticoagulation would be appropriate for some patients with ESUS. New large-scale, prospective studies should be conducted to address this issue. Additionally, considering the low rate of LASP descriptions, we concluded that the awareness of operators should be raised to improve their success in identifying LASPs.
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